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Anglia in Bloom Charity Registered No. 1134478 |
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Entrants Information - Special Awards Explained
Besides the category awards there are several Special Awards.
To gain a special award, a project or area must be nominated by the entrant on the Special Award Nomination Form. The completed form is to be returned to the judges at the same time the portfolios are sent in. If the entry fulfils all the criteria on the marking sheets it should be possible to enter something for every award, irrespective of whether it is felt good enough to win (entrants do not know the quality of the others in the same category).
The judges will choose the ones they feel are best from the category they have judged. These are then taken forward to the judging debrief where all the judges vote to select the winners. As it can be seen from the Special Award Nomination Form, there are some awards that need no nomination.
NB An entrant cannot be awarded the same special award two years in a row, even if a different site is nominated. Smaller entrants may only have one example in their entry to nominate for each special award, even if an award has been given the previous year they should continue to nominate every one.
An entrant should only nominate one area/project per special award although others may be shown to the judges on the judging route.
Entrants Special Award Nomination Photographs - 6 to 10 Please (NOT A SPECIAL AWARD) To decide which project should receive an award it is necessary for the judges to have photographs to compare at their debriefing session. In the past the judges have tried to take these themselves whilst on the judging route.
It is now felt that this is less than satisfactory, one judge has been constantly distracted by taking photographs whilst the other tries to take in all the information being given. It has also meant that during inclement weather the photographs have not been of as high a standard as we would have liked. With this in mind we would ask the entrants to please take photographs of their special award nominations.
They can be taken when the weather and light are at the best. Please take between 6 and 10 photographs of each award nominated. If it is a project that has been ongoing for a period of time the photographs can be taken over the time the project has been running and give a better insight (before and after). Place on a disc at not too high a resolution and make sure each picture is clearly labelled as to which award it is pertaining to. This should be handed to the judges with the nominations sheet. If you wish the disc can be returned with the portfolios at the seminar.
Try to nominate something for every special award as this will ensure that points are awarded in every section.
To gain a special award, a project or area must be nominated by the entrant on the Special Award Nomination Form. It is important that the judges know and see each special award entry that is to be considered.
Guidance Notes for the Special Awards
If any further information is required regarding special awards do ask the judges, who are more than willing to give advice.
Community project
One of the core pillars of the campaign is Community Participation. This award attempts to recognize the involvement of the community. The project can involve anything from bulb planting, tree planting, refurbishing an historic site, clearing derelict land, making planters, clearing litter and rubbish, improving an eyesore, etc. or a combination of a number of the points listed. The project should be community lead. It must benefit the community It should involve as many of the community as possible, in all age groups.
Conservation project
This award is for the demonstration of commitment to sustainable management of the flora and fauna in the local environment. It should be somewhere people have access to enjoy wildlife It could be a nationally important site such as an SSSI. There could be plans to reintroduce/encourage wildlife to return, especially rare species. It could be somewhere that has been saved from development and turned into a wildlife refuge. It must be well managed, with a well thought out management plan There should be comprehensive information available in the form of notice boards, leaflets, etc. to alert people to what is on site.
Drought / Sustainable Garden
With the threat of global warming and shortages of water this award recognizes innovative ways that a garden has been produced to overcome these problems. It should contain drought tolerant species of plants that require little or no maintenance after the first year of establishment. It should be colorful, even if this is by foliage alone and have as wide a range of colours, textures and height as possible. It should have some form of mulch to retain moisture.
Floral display by an individual or community
This is a new award that will be awarded to an individual or a community that in the opinion of the judges has produced an outstanding display but has had no input either financial or material in any way by a local authority. It will have to demonstrate the same standards as for the local authority award i.e. good design, colour combinations, appropriate choice of plants, innovation, quality of plants, cultivation, maintenance and special features.
Local Authority Floral Display
Over the past few years the spectacular floral bedding displays produced by local authorities have declined. There have been a number of reasons for this (loss of skilled craftsmen, costs and sustainability, etc) This award is to recognize those local authorities who still manage to produce a stunning display. It needs to demonstrate good design, colours combinations, appropriate choice of plants, innovation, quality of plants, cultivation, maintenance and special features.
Public open space.
This award can be awarded to an area of just a few acres to one of several hundreds acres. It could have a range of uses from organised sports, village green, public park, country park, sea front gardens, redundant churchyard/ cemetery, etc. The public could be solely using it as an open space or there could be one or a number of the following activities available: Organised sports (cricket, football), fishing lakes/streams, children’s play area/s, wildlife area/s, nature trails/walks, rare grasslands, bowling green, golf course, flower/shrub beds, etc,. It should all be well managed and maintained and with possibly a five to ten year management plan. The site should also have toilet facilities that are clean and well maintained. It should be litter free with several litter bins including ones for dog foulings that are emptied regularly. There should be good informative signage It should be well used by the community and where applicable visitors alike
Garden for Special Needs
Not everybody is physically or mentally fit but they have a right to enjoy the things that able-bodied people do. This award recognizes the effort that has been made to providing a place for people with special needs to enjoy without restriction. There are no restrictions on size but it hasn’t got to be large. It should have easy access for wheelchairs and anyone with special needs. It should have signage that is easily read including in Braille. The plants used should have varied sized, textured and shaped leaves which should also be scented. There should also be a quiet area where people can sit and contemplate and also listen to the sounds of nature. If possible it should be sheltered and should be inviting to everyone
Grow Your Own Award
The aim of this award is to highlight the significant contribution made by fruit and vegetables to publicly accessible green spaces in local communities, both in terms of their culinary and aesthetic value and the part this plays in the In Bloom campaign. It will go to the entrant that best incorporates aspects of fruit and vegetables growing in their entry. It is hoped that this award will encourage greater numbers of people to grow their own fruit and vegetables.
The judges will be looking for:
§ Varieties of fruit and/or vegetables grown. § Quality of produce. § Best practice in growing of fruit and/or vegetables. § Appropriate design and display
They will also be looking for innovation, public access, education and communication of fruit and vegetable growing undertaken by the local community. The judges might expect to see fruit and vegetables grown by individuals or groups in public spaces eg. in front gardens or in community gardens. They might expect to see fruit and/or vegetables mixed with ornamental planting, or as a dedicated fruit and/or vegetable site. Allotments can be considered if publicly accessible.
Young Peoples Award
This can be a school project or any other worthwhile project being carried out by scouts, guides or a group of young people that enriches the area in which they live. There are two awards, one for the best project by young people under the age of 12 years and one for those young people aged between 12 and 18 years. A nomination to one or both of these will be allowed. To allow the judges to assess each project a minimum of an extra ¼ of an hour per project will be allowed. This is over and above the time allowed for judging the main entrant. Make sure the judges are informed prior to the judging day there will be a project(s) to visit as this will have a bearing on timing. .
Biodiversity Award
The aim of this award is to recognise the efforts made by communities in supporting and increasing biodiversity in domestic and community gardens, and within parks, gardens, allotments and other green spaces managed by local authorities. The award recognises the significance of gardens to biodiversity. It is an accolade to the entrant who best demonstrates the contribution they have made to benefit the biodiversity of their local area. In assessing entries for this award, the judges will be looking for:
§ Evidence of the consideration by individual gardeners to the positive ( and negative) impact of selected plants and other features on local biodiversity § Evidence of engaging and educating the wider community, including children, on the topic of biodiversity as relevant to the local area. For example via interpretation material, planting demonstrations or via demonstration beds. § Evidence of the consideration given to specific wildlife that needs support within the local area, and the steps taken to implement supporting planting schemes. For example the rationales for including certain plants to attract insects that are a food source for bird species in the area. § A healthy balance of planting styles throughout the entry as a whole incorporating a variety of habitats to support a wide range of wildlife (for example aquatic planting for amphibians), and also sustainable approaches to bedding schemes. § Quality and appropriateness of planting design and presentation.
The RHS produces a helpful range of literature about biodiversity including an information leaflet entitled ‘Gardens and Biodiversity’, in addition to Conservation and Environment leaflets on subjects relating to biodiversity such as:
§ Wildflowers in the garden § Wildlife in gardens § Invasive non-native species § Wild and endangered plants in cultivation § CITIES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild flora and fauna) § Bringing plants in from abroad
These leaflets and information about biodiversity are available from www.rhs.org.uk/research/conservationandenvironment.asp
Industrial/Commercial Area Award
Because some entrants have no industrial area this award includes commercial areas such as shopping centres, multiple stores, retail centres, bus stations, rail stations, etc.
The area nominated should be actively involved with the local in bloom campaign. Its efforts should also be in keeping with the overall campaign. It could show support by including sponsoring displays/planters, actively engaging in horticultural efforts on their own premises, funding bloom initiatives, volunteering/participating in local bloom activities.
Environmental Quality Award
Looking after our environment has become a key expectation, and cleanliness and waste management are two important aspects of the In Bloom criteria. In this award special emphasis will be placed on initiatives bringing improvements in one or more of the following areas:
§ Cleanliness e.g. addressing issues of litter, dog fouling, chewing gum, graffiti, fly posting, vandalism, weeds, condition of hard landscaping and street furniture, condition of litter bins and dog bins and management of gap sites. § Health and environment e.g. improving air or noise quality. § Waste management (green waste in particular) e.g. composting and the recycling of materials. § Management of naturally occurring resources e.g. minimisation of the use of water and heat conservation. § Soil degradation e.g. addressing urban drainage issues § Chemical use e.g. pesticides and nitrate fertilisers
The judges will look for innovative examples of community action in all of the above; communication to all sectors of the community on the activity and its benefits; and practical advice on how everyone can reduce waste and save resources at home.
The Roy Lacey Award
This award is given to the person or persons who have given a great deal of time and energy to promoting the aims and ambitions of the In Bloom, be it local, regional or national level over a considerable period. The nominations for this can be either from the judges or from entrants.
Special Awards Nomination Form Click Here
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